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Time For A Change? How To Choose Between Living Arrangements

Choosing what kind of property you are going to live in, and whereabouts, is one of the most important decisions you ever make. It doesn’t matter how many times you may have done it before, it is always important to ensure that you choose as well as possible. Of course, this is very often easier said than done, and you will probably find that it is a decision which takes you a long time to come to. However, knowing your main options is always going to help, and that’s why we have listed them here. When it comes to thinking about moving, these are your three main options.

First of all, and probably the most exciting of all, is to consider building your own new house. Now, this is a dream for many people all over the world, and when it is achieved it is one of the most pleasing feelings there are. Of course, building your own house is not easy, and it comes with its own unique set of challenges, but if you are able to take those in your stride, and you desperately want your own place, then this might be your best option of all. To build, you need to find a plot of land that you can afford to buy, make sure you have any planning permission that might be necessary, and hire the help of some professional house builders to ensure that it goes off without a hitch. Done right, this can be one of the most pleasing ways to move home - but be prepared to wait a while.

Buy

If you are not in the kind of position where you can wait to build your own place, then probably your next best option is to simply buy somewhere. In order to be able to do this, you need to be in a pretty good situation financially. Not only do you need enough money for the deposit (normally around 10% of the asking price), but you also need to make sure that your financial history is as clean as possible. This means absolutely no outstanding debt, for a start, but also that you have a decent credit rating. If you can be sure of all this, then it is time to start looking for a property that suits your needs. Remember that you have the option to haggle, and ideally you want to avoid a chain situation, if at all possible.

Rent

If you are keen for a quick move, then renting is arguably the best way to go. The good thing about renting is that it is fast, the deposit tends to be relatively small in comparison to buying a property, and you can move in quickly. This makes it ideal for someone looking to make a quick fresh start. Of course, you also need to bear in mind that renting is not the most financially sensible option in the long run, and if you can afford to either buy or build, then those options are much better. However, if you can’t afford to, then renting is often the best option, and it does have its own perks, such as the freedom to move away again after - usually - a six month term.